Electrolytic cell



Dec. 24, 1940. w J; ROSENBLCIDOM ELECTROLYTIC CELL Filed Oct. 14, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l5 INVEN TOR l WILUAM-J.-RO$ENBLOOM FIG- BY w ATTORNEY Dec. 24, 1940. w. J. ROSENBLOOYM ELECTROLYTIC CELL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 14. 1937 FIG. E. FIG. 2

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ELECTROLYTIC CELL I Filed Oct. 14, 1957 s Sheet-Sheet s INVENT R 3 ,WIUJAMALROSENBLOOM ygywmw ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES we a ELECTROLYTIC CELL William J. ltosenbloom, mu, British columbia,

. Canada Application October 14, 1937, Serial No. 169,003

u 2 Claim. This invention relates to improvements in electrolytic cells used in the commercial. production of.oxygen and hydrogen by the electrolysis of ranged so that they are readily accessible for repair or replacement.

Another feature of the invention consists the provision of a novel arrangement of diaphragm frames to which the diaphragms are 20 secured so that they are held against flapping" or clinging to the electrodes.

Proceeding now to a more detailed description reference will be had to the accompanying draws ings wherein a 25 Fig. 1 is atop plan view of a tank type electrolyzer designed in accordance with this invention with the gas collectors removed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the sembled cell along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

- Fig.;3 is a sectional view along the line .3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the dia phragm frame structure.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 35 Of Flg. 4.

Fig. 6' is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

' Fig. '7 is a top plan view of one of the gas collectors. and

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the collector appearing in Fi "I. r

Fig. 9 is a view of one-of theelectrodes.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentarysectional view taken' along the line Ill-Ill'of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

5 designates a tank to which feed water is supplied through a pipe 6. This pipe enters the tank at one side and extends horizontally along the bottom to a point close to the opposite side of 30 the tank. Pipe 6 is provided, at points directly below the diaphragms 1, with openings 8 through which the feed water enters the cell directly L below each diaphragm. The size of openings 8 should be such that distribution of the feed water 55 is substantially uniform. Each diaphragm 'l is secured. over an opening formed inone of the diaphragm frames 9. As shown more clearly in Fig 6 opposite edges of each diaphragm Tare clamped to its associated diaphragm frame by suitable clamping strips Ill. The diaphragm frames 9 are removably connected at alternate ends in end to end relation to form an interwinding diaphragm structure between the hollow, nickle plated anodes-.12 and cathodes l3. In this connection it will be noted that each frame is'provided with flanges ll and [5 which are bolted to the corresponding flanges of adjacent frames. As shown to advantage'in Fig. 1 a channel, continuous with the upper edge of the tortuous diaphragm structure, is provided by means of mating channel sections I6 carried at the upper edges of .the diaphragm frames. Two gas collectors lla such-as shown in Figs. 3, '7 and 8, are reversely arranged in the tank so that the arms ll of one collector'flt between the arms of the companion collector. Each gas collector Ila comprisesv a main gas |.co1lecting header adapted to lie at one side of .the cell and a set of laterally. extending gas collecting arms I! adapted to extend across the cell above each anode or cathode and to collect the gas generated thereby. Each gas collecting arm I] is trough shaped in cross section and has depending side walls. The lower edges of these side walls are adapted to seat in the channels ii at the tops of the diaphragm frames 9. It will thus be seen that in the assembled structure illustrated in Fig. 2 the gas collectors Ila rest upon the tops of the diaphragm frames 8 with the depending sides of their gas collecting arms ll seated in and supported by the channels it. p

The ends of the tortuous diaphragm structure formed by the series of interconnected frames 9 are connected to opposite ends of the tank by means of vertical U irons indicated at is. The bottom of the tank may also be, provided with any suitable form of spacing lugs or other devices for holding in properly-.sp'aced relation the lower edges of the diaphragm frames 9 which rest upon it. Horizontalangles are also welded to the inner surface of the tank to form channels in which portions of the gas collectors are seated as shown in Fig. 2.

Each anode l2 comprises a metal plate bent in the form of a V and provided with attaching lips 2| :by which it is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to a metallic current distributing plate 22 which serves todistribute electric current uniformly to all of the anodes. The plate 22 extends down deeply enough to provide ample contact to the anodes l2 and is connected to a nickel plated copper busbar connection 23. Because of this arrangement the relatively large current distributing plate 22 delivers a uniform amount of current throughout the entire depth of the electrodes, thus insuring maximum electrode efliciency throughout the entire cell.

Each cathode 13 also comprises a V-shaped metal plate having attaching lips 24 fastened to a current distributing plate 25 similar to the plate 22 which, in turn, is equipped with a busbar connection 26. similar to that described in connection with the anodes.

The V-shapedelectrodes 12 and [3 may be replaced by U-shaped electrodes or other suitable hollow electrodes through which the electrolyte may be circulated as hereinafter described.

As shown in Fig. 2, the cathodes l3 are suspended by supporting rods 21 from the inverted troughs H of one of the gas collectors Fla. The anodes are similarly suspended from the inverted troughs of the remaining collector. The rods by which the electrodes are thus suspended are connected to the inverted troughs of the gas collectors by gas-tight insulators 21 and each rod may, if desired, be surrounded by a glass tube 28 or other suitable insulator to avoid danger of short circuits. In practice the top edge of each electrode is spaced below the bottom edges of the overlying collector trough. As shown in Fig. 7, the back part of the collectors are indented as indicated at 30 to leave sufficient clearance between the collectors and the adjacent walls of the tank for the passage of the busbar connections 23 and 26.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides an electrolytic cell construction of the tank type which is completely self-contained and in which no superstructure or external supporting means are needed. The diaphragms I are removably secured to the diaphragm frames 9 which may be bolted together to form a rigid diaphragm structure and yet permit the easy removal of one or more frames for replacement if necessary. The frames 9 rest upon and are supported by the bottom of the tank and removably support the gas collectors l'la on their upper edges by means of the channels sections I6. These gas collectors, in turn, support the anodes I2 and cathodes l3 and the current distributing plates 22 and 25 which are rigidly secured thereto, so that the entire anode or cathode assembly may at any time be separately removed from the tank simply by lifting out the corresponding gas collector. I

Another structural advantage of the present invention lies in the facility with which the hollow vertical electrodes [2 and I3 are supplied with fresh water through the openings 8 of the feed pipe 6. Since electrolyte containing gas is lighter than ordinary electrolyte it follows that there will be atendencyfor the electrolyte to flow upwardly between the anodes and cathodes and downwardly through the individual hollow electrodes. The direct introduction of feed water through the openings 8 into the recirculating I, stream of electrolyte in each electrode compartment results in a uniform composition of electrolyte throughout the cell and makes it possible to use deeper electrodes than would otherwise be feasible.

With the electrode arrangement described herein there ls'very little danger of trouble due to short circuits. In case of iron deposits between the top edges of the cathodes and the diaphragm frames it is a very simple matter to raise the cathode block and wash away the loose iron. It will also be seen that the only way in which gas can mix is through holes developing in the diaphragm. Trouble due to the building up of excessive oxygen or hydrogen pressure is avoided; the construction is such that oxygen or hydrogen may bubble to atmosphere via the bottom edge of the collector and the channel.

Having described what is now considered the preferred embodiment of this invention, various modifications in the construction and arrange ment of parts may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of the appended claims. For example,

the electrodes of each set may be of any desired shape that'will afford the requisite circulating passages for the electrolyte and may be rigidly longitudinal edge of each frame, electrodes of opposite polarity'mounted on opposite sides of each diaphragm, gas collectors over said electrodes having depending sides seated in and supported by said channels, and insulated suspending. members supporting said electrodes from said gas collectors.

2. An electrolytic cell comprising in combination a tank, a plurality of rigid vertical diaphragm frames supported in and by said tank in planes parallel to a pair of opposite side walls thereof, said frames being of a length'less than the length of said side walls and being removably connected at alternate ends to form a continuous structure spaced from the end walls of-rthe tank, a channel on the upper longitudinal edge of each frame, horizontal angles forming channels on the side walls of the tank opposite the channels on the frames, an electrode between each pair of frames and between the two outside frames and the side walls of the tank, gas collectors over said electrodes having depending sides seated in and supported by said channels, and insulated suspending members supporting said electrodes from said gas collectors.

WILLIAM J. ROSENBLOOM. 

